Teenage Drug Abuse Essay Research Paper One

Teenage Drug Abuse Essay, Research Paper

One of the largest problems in society today is teenage drug abuse. After a

dramatic drop in the use of illicit drugs among teens throughout the 80 s, once again teen drug

use is on the rise at a dangerous rate and shows no signs of slowing down. In 1979 more than

16 percent of children between the ages of 12-17, used drugs according to the Drug Enforcement

Administration. Under the banner of the Just Say No slogan, Presidents Reagan and Bush

helped drive this number down to a low of 5.3 percent in 1992, but it has crept back up to 10

percent today ( Drug Use Back Up for Youth, 1). From 1991 to 1994 eighth graders who said

they had used marijuana in the previous year doubled to 13 percent. In the same time region,

marijuana use increased 66 percent among 10th graders as well as a 44 percent increase among

12th graders. Marijuana has by far, been the most popular drug used by teens as well as all

Americans in the past decade. However, there is a new generation of drugs that is just beginning

to effect the nations youth. Ecstasy, or MDMA, belongs to a family of drugs called

entactogens, which literally means touching within. It creates a sense of euphoria for the user

and enhances feelings of empathy, emotional warmth, and self acceptance. Besides extreme liver

and brain damage, the effects of ecstasy are yet to be discovered since the drug is so new.

Recently, a new mock ecstasy pill has been circulating which creates the same euphoric feelings of

real MDMA but is much cheaper to manufacture. These pills have been found to contain PMA,

speed, DXM, and PCP. Deaths have already been reported from heatstroke as a result of taking

this mock pill (What Is Ecstasy, 2). Among other drugs that are currently on the rise are cocaine,

inhalants, ciggerettes, and alcohol.

The teenagers of our nation are our future. If this generation of teens continue

growing up in an environment where drugs are everywhere and they are not receiving the proper

drug education they will accept drug use as a proper way of life which will result in horrible

consequences. We must do what we can to get the message across that drug use will greatly

harm your body and mind. On an even scarier note, scientists and doctors have yet to discover

the harmful effects that certain drugs have on an individual. In 20 years, doctors may announce

that those who have used ecstasy in the past, are guaranteed to develop brain tumors. This is a

worst case scenario, but it is surely a reality. Drug use is a direct violation of the societal goals

of good health, personal safety, and economic opportunity. Its is imperative that this issue be

addressed as soon as possible before younger children are effected. By ignoring the huge problem

that is staring this nation right in the face we are putting today s children, our children s children

and so forth at risk.

There are several causes for the increased number of teenage drug users in the country.

The Clinton Administration shares some of the blame for increased abuse. By slashing drug

enforcement positions, reducing drug persecutions, reducing international anti-drug programs and

laughing when he told an MTV audience that he didn t inhale he was not sending out a very

positive message to the nations youth (Bauer, 2). The fact that many parents have difficulty

approaching their children about drugs does not help either especially since most of today s

parents, children from the 60 s and 70 s, have admitted to drug use themselves. The biggest

problem seems to be the lack of efficiency in America s drug education program. My proposed

policy is to issue a mandatory drug education course for all students in 8th through 12th grade

which will be run by profit free drug education organizations ( for example, Teen Outreach,

Students for a Drug Free America, PRIDE, etc.) taught by young adults who were once teenage

drug users themselves. This course will also require a trip to a drug rehabilitation center once a

year where students can see the true damage that drug abuse can have on ones life. The idea that

this course will be taught by real people and not police officers will enhance the idea that drug

addiction can happen to anyone and will prevent students from feeling inadequate. This will

ensure the updated education of teenagers at a time in their life where they are most confronted

with drugs.

II: Formulation

The problem of teenage drug abuse is becoming a more important issue every day.

Studies have shown that there has been a 78 percent increase from 1992-1998 in drug abuse

among teenagers aged 12-17, including the drugs LSD and other hallucinogens, cocaine, and

marijuana (Plohetski,1). Increasing numbers of teens as well as children are dying as a result of

inhaling gasses from aerosol cans or huffing , to get high (Hayes, 1). According to the 9th

annual PRIDE survey, student use of most drugs has reached its h

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